Two earthquakes, with magnitudes of 5.8 and 5.9, struck southwest China Saturday, killing one and injuring eight

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Pu'er City in southwest China's Yunnan Province early Saturday morning, and then a 5.9 magnitude quake hit again in the early evening at 6:20 p.m.

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The second quake killed a nine-year-old boy after a wall in his house collapsed on him while he was sleeping. Eight others were injured, and China state news agency Xinhua reported many residents rushed out of buildings seeking safety. The first quake razed 12 houses, and damaged roads and other public facilities.

According to China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, an estimated14,000 people had been affected by the two quakes as of 10:00 p.m., with 36 houses toppled and more than 3,400 damaged.

The epicenter was located at 23.3 degrees north latitude and 100.5 degrees east longitude, and at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the center. Transportation, telecommunications and power supply facilities have remained in operation.

Zhang Jianguo, of Yunnan Disaster Prevention Research Institute, told Xinhua that he believed the quake was a strong aftershock of a strong quake that struck the same area on October 7. That earthquake registered a 6.6 magnitude, killing one person and injuring more than 300.  He said that the epicenters of the two quakes were only 10 kilometers apart.

TagsTwo Earthquake Strike SW China Child Dead Eight Injured, 5.8 magnitude, 5.9 magnitude, China Earthquake Networks Center, Pu'er City, Yunnan province, Zhang Jianguo, Yunnan Disaster Prevention Research Institute